Arroyo, other players jam in Diamondbacks' new 'Rock Room'

Diamondbacks pitcher Bronson Arroyo, center, jams to some classic rock with second baseman Aaron Hill, left, and pitcher Wade Miley in a converted storage room at Chase Field before the D-Backs play the Miami Marlins on Wednesday, July 9, 2014.(Photo: Charlie Leight/azcentral sports)

It used to be just another storage room in the bowels of Chase Field, an unmarked catch-all area behind two silent, green double doors.

It's not silent there anymore.

Now, when you walk by this particular room, located just a few dozen steps from the Diamondbacks' clubhouse, you're likely to hear the rock-steady beat of drums and a bass guitar; the live, thrashing riffs of a Stratocaster or two; and a guttural singing voice that sounds a little like that of Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder.

"We don't quite have a band yet, but it's a great jam, man," said Arroyo, who has been heavily involved in the music scene since he first picked up a guitar in the minor leagues. "I came in here one night after I pitched on the road, and I played until 4 o'clock in the morning. I got here at 1 and just played for three hours by myself in my suit, just sweating like a pig. It was great.

"Just singing at the top of your lungs, man, it's the greatest stress reliever of all time."

Arroyo and his musical mates, who include pitcher Wade Miley, center fielder A.J. Pollock and second baseman Aaron Hill on guitar, and left fielder Mark Trumbo on drums, as well as a cast of other comers and goers, can thank manager Kirk Gibson for all the fun.

After all, he arranged it.

He's friends with Rick Nielsen, the lead guitarist and primary songwriter for the band Cheap Trick. Ten years ago, when Gibson was looking for the perfect gift for his son, Kirk Robert, Nielsen suggested he buy his kid the 50th-anniversary edition of Fender's famed Stratocaster.

Gibson and the folks at Fender have had a relationship ever since, and earlier this season, when Gibson noticed that several of his players had an interest in playing music, he asked Fender for some instruments.

"They had a 'Rock Room' previously in here when I came here, but they had taken it out," Gibson said, adding that he simply e-mailed Fender with his request and "they brought it all down the very next day."

The "Rock Room" is rocking again thanks to a full drum kit, two electric guitars and amps, a bass guitar and amp, an acoustic guitar, and a P.A. system with microphones and amps. Fender even threw in a portable backdrop to help out with the acoustics.

"They didn't send over a tour bus, but I don't think we need it just yet," Arroyo said. "The group we got in here is still ragtag."

It isn't without its share of special guests, however. Arroyo, who in 2005 recorded his own CD while with the Boston Red Sox, is friends with many musicians and rock stars. When they're in town for shows, lots of them pop into the Diamondbacks' "Rock Room" for impromptu jam sessions.

Recent visitors have included Cee-Lo Green and band members from the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Staind. More surprise appearances are in the works, according to Arroyo, who will have plenty of free time to jam with them now that he's become the latest Diamondbacks pitcher to undergo Tommy John elbow surgery.

"Bronson's got a bunch of buddies in the business, and it's always fun when they stop by," said Pollock, who began playing the guitar during his freshman year in high school. "It's been a real nice outlet for me, being on the disabled list with this wrist injury.

"Anyone who's been on the DL knows it's a physical rehab, but that it's also mentally tough trying to stay fresh and stay in the game. That's the hardest part. Everybody's away from you and you don't feel like you're on a team. You feel like you're just kind of floating around. So you try to do everything you can to just stay involved, and something like playing guitar and jamming with Bronson and Trumbo and Gibby's son, it's been cool."

Kirk Robert Gibson frequently joins in on the sessions, and he can sing as well as he plays the guitar.

"He's got great range, man," Arroyo said, adding the younger Gibson can "wail like (former Led Zeppelin singer) Robert Plant."

Kirk Gibson, the manager, doesn't jam with the boys, but you can often find him in the "Rock Room" listening and drifting away in peaceful bliss.

"Yeah, I go down and sit in there," he said. "It's part of my routine when they're playing. I like music as well, so instead of putting my iPod in, I listen to those guys. It's good."

When Gibson took over full time as manager in 2011, he put an end to all the toys many of his players were bringing into the clubhouse, things such as radio-controlled airplanes and Airsoft guns.

But his decision to allow, and to provide, the music room is different, he said. It represents teamwork and bonding. Plus, it's an acceptable stress reliever.

"It's pretty awesome to go in there and jam a little bit and just shut the world off and play some music," Miley said. "It gets you away from this crazy world we live in and what we do. There's a lot of pressure and a lot of stress this game can cause at times, and it just kind of releases all that."

Hill can testify to that as well as anyone. He's been the subject of constant trade speculation for weeks.

"Yeah, I need to be in there more often," he said with a laugh. "It's been nice. It's a long year, and when things aren't going your way it's always cool to have a release, whether it's golf or doing something like this."

For now, the Diamondbacks' "Rock Room" is a tad amateurish but remains fun. Arroyo is still trying to teach Miley how to master the bass and hopes Trumbo learns to "lock down" the drums. Meanwhile, he's searching for more teammates who might be interested in joining the jam.

"I was hoping Miggy would come on in," he said, referring to catcher Miguel Montero. "I thought he could add some salsa rhythm or something."

"Sorry," Nuño told Arroyo. "The only thing I know how to play is the clarinet."

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